The Relationship Between Islam and the Future of Peace and Conflict in the World

There are strong relationships between worldwide peace and conflict and belief systems. Many world conflicts stem from differences in religous and non-religous ideologies, where a social group, on a local, national or global level level disagrees with anothers values, beliefs and ideologies if their own belief system enough to cause resentment and even verbal and/or physical attacks. However there is an equally strong link between peace and one's faith, that through a belief system social cohesion and adhesion is resultant.

This is true in the religous belief system of Islam. The world's youngest major religion, second only in adherence to Christianity, with worldwide 1.5 billion followers, has played huge roles in establishing world peace and conflict.

This conflict has occurred on a long term scale and will continue into the future. From the origins of Islam in the 7th Century AD, Islam has caused conflict throughout the world, particularly in the Middle East. Arabia during this time was heavily divided and pluralistic in its belief systems and followers. When the prophet Mohammed received revelations from the Angel Gabriel on behalf of Allah - who in Islam is considered the ONE supreme god, under which all men are equal - whilst meditating at Mt Hira, near Mecca. Mohammed representing Allah, attempted to unite Arabia and challenged the polytheistic and tribal beliefs. This was the first instance of conflict on a local level and resulted in Mohammed expulsion of Mecca. When Mohammed and his followers returned they defeated the city of Mecca and destroyed all idols and symbols of other faith, establishing Mecca as Islam's most holy city.

Through rapid spread, due to globalisation, worldwide contemporary examples of conflict are prominent. One such example is that of the civil war in Iraq. As with many belief systems, there are segregated and explicit groups within Islam, through the interpretation of doctrines, in this case the Islamic bible - The...